QUICK NEWS, 3-9: WIND’S RECORD BREAKING DAY IN TX; REAL GOODS SOLAR, REAL GOOD IN ’09; UK OCEAN ENERGY CENTER ADDS JOBS; LEDS ARE BEST CITY LIGHTS

WIND’S RECORD BREAKING DAY IN TX
Setting Wind Power Records in Texas
Kate Galbraith, March 5, 2010 (NY Times)

"Texas, the nation’s wind-power leader, set a new record for wind generation…at 6:37 a.m. [March 5 when] about 19 percent of the electricity on the state’s main grid was supplied by turbines.

"The 6,272-megawatt peak — which does not include turbines in the windy Panhandle because that region is on a different grid — surpassed another record, set [February 28] near midday. The state’s overall wind average is significantly lower than these spikes: Last year Texas got 6.2 percent of its electricity from wind…The nation as a whole has less than 2 percent wind in its electricity mix."

Now that Texas has demonstrated what is possible, the only obstacle between it and New Energy riches is the fulfillment of its transmission plans. (click thru for more info)

"Texas’s progress in installing turbines is testing the bounds of just how much wind the electrical grid can handle. Some turbines are slowed or shut down on windy days because the state does not have sufficient transmission wires to move all the power from the remote, windy areas of West Texas to cities like Dallas and Houston that need it…[When the supply rose to record highs,] the prices for wind generation offered on the main Texas grid actually fell below zero, a sign of oversupply that usually prompts wind generators to shut down their turbines.

"Texas is spending nearly $5 billion to fix the transmission problem. It plans to build a web of power lines that would be able to deliver the wind energy from congested West Texas, home to 89 percent of the wind capacity on the state’s main grid, to power-hungry cities. That process, however, looks likely to be delayed by a recent court decision."

Now that Texas has demonstrated what is possible, the only obstacle between it and New Energy riches is the fulfillment of its transmission plans. (click thru for more info)

"Meanwhile, the state is able to break new wind records partly because of the growth of wind in areas with sufficient transmission. A 180-megawatt wind farm opened last September near Corpus Christi…NextEra Energy Resources, a major wind developer, also recently completed a private transmission line for its enormous wind farm in West Texas.

"Texas’s challenges may serve as a test case for the nation. A 2008 Energy Department report outlined the changes that will be needed if the nation is going to achieve a goal of 20 percent wind power by 2030. One of the key prerequisites, the report said, is better transmission lines."


REAL GOODS SOLAR, REAL GOOD IN ‘09
Real Goods Solar Reports Record Fourth Quarter Results
March 8, 2010 (Global Newswire via MarketWatch)

"Real Goods Solar, Inc…[n]et revenue for the fourth quarter of 2009 increased 41.8% to $19.1 million from $13.5 million recorded in the same period last year. All of the year-over-year revenue growth was organic.

"Gross profit increased to $5.4 million, or 28.1% of net revenue, for the fourth quarter of 2009 from $3.2 million, or 23.5% of net revenue, in the comparable period last year. The increase in gross profit percentage primarily reflects improved installation practices as well as declines in module prices over the last year."

click thru for the Real Goods Solar website

"Operating expenses as a percent of net revenue decreased to 26.3% for the fourth quarter of 2009 from 42.1% in the comparable period last year. This decrease is partially a reflection of the significant fixed cost component of the business and the available leverage as revenues scale. Additionally, the lower operating expenses have resulted from significant cost savings achieved by transitioning all acquisitions to a single set of systems and a unified brand."

Flash Player 9 or higher is required to view the chart
Click here to download Flash Player now

View the full RSOL chart at Wikinvest

"Net income for the fourth quarter of 2009 was $0.2 million, or $0.01 per share, as compared to a net loss of $27.4 million, or $1.53 per share, for the comparable period last year. Excluding the non-cash goodwill impairment charge, net of tax, of $25.9 million, net loss for the fourth quarter of 2008 would have been $1.5 million, or $0.08 per share.

"For the year ended December 31, 2009, revenue was $64.3 million, a 64.0% increase from $39.2 million in the comparable period last year, due to acquisitions and organic growth. Net loss totaled $1.6 million, or $0.09 per share, compared to a net loss of $28.0 million, or $1.86 per share, for the year ended December 31, 2008. Excluding the non-cash goodwill impairment charge, net of tax, of $25.9 million, net loss for the year ended December 31, 2008 would have been $2.1 million, or $0.14 per share…[and excluding acquisitions]…"


UK OCEAN ENERGY CENTER ADDS JOBS
Marine energy hydropower test center expanding workforce as demand grows
2 March 2010 (PennWell via HydroWorld)

"A leading marine energy hydropower test center for wave and tidal energy technologies is expanding its workforce to meet the growing demands of companies developing devices that harness energy from the sea.

"EMEC, the Orkney, Scotland-based European Marine Energy Centre, is gearing up for the arrival of more devices capable of generating electricity from waves or tidal currents…EMEC operates the world's first open-sea, grid-connected test facilities for prototype wave and tidal energy technologies…Ireland's OpenHydro is testing its tidal turbines at EMEC, while Scotland's Aquamarine Power is testing its Oyster wave energy converter…"

click to enlarge

"A world first was achieved when Edinburgh-based Pelamis Wave Power generated electricity to the National Grid from its deep water floating device at EMEC’s wave test site…A second test site for tidal devices off the island of Eday has since been opened, with the first developer, Dublin-based OpenHydro, installed and generating electricity to the grid…OpenHydro has [also] now successfully deployed a commercial turbine at the Bay of Fundy in Nova Scotia…

"With machines already undergoing sea trials at EMEC, five new staff are to be recruited to join the 13-strong team currently running the center…[The five main types of marine and hydrokinetic energy technologies: ocean wave, tidal stream, river hydrokinetic, ocean current, and ocean thermal] could represent a large source of renewable electricity generation capacity by 2025, according to a report by Pike Research…"

click to enlarge

"Oyster, a wave energy converter developed by…Aquamarine Power, is also generating electricity for the UK National Grid while undergoing a test program at EMEC…Atlantis Resources Corp. likewise has selected the waters off Scotland’s Orkney Islands as the proving ground for the world’s biggest tidal turbine…Ocean Power Technologies signed an agreement with EMEC in 2008, enabling the wave energy developer to install a wave project…[and recently] construction began off Oregon's coast on [an Ocean Power Technologies] commercial U.S. wave energy farm…

"Ten of the current EMEC team were recruited from within Orkney. The center is now seeking to fill three research posts, with two more staff needed to join the operations team looking after electrical and testing activities…"


LEDS ARE BEST CITY LIGHTS
LED streetlights best buy for cities, researchers report
March 8, 2010 (University of Pittsburgh via PhysOrg)

"University of Pittsburgh researchers have conducted the first cradle-to-grave assessment of light-emitting diode (LED) streetlights and determined that the increasingly popular lamps strike the best balance between brightness, affordability, and energy and environmental conservation when their life span—from production to disposal—is considered. LEDs consist of clusters of tiny, high-intensity bulbs and are extolled for their power efficiency and clear luminosity.

"Engineers…compared LED streetlights to the country's two most common lamps—the high-pressure sodium (HPS) lamps found in most cities and metal halide lamps akin to those in stadiums—and the gas-based induction bulb, another emerging technology billed as bright and energy efficient… LEDs may carry a formidable price tag, but in comparison to HPS and metal halide lamps consume half the electricity, last up to five times longer, and produce more light. Induction lights proved slightly more affordable and energy efficient than LEDs, but may also have a greater environmental impact when in use…LED technology exhibits more potential for improvement and may surpass induction lamps in the future."

click to enlarge

"The survey coincides with initiatives in several U.S. cities to replace energy-guzzling HPS lamps—known for their flat orange glow—with LEDs. The City of Pittsburgh…[is considering] replacing 40,000 streetlights with LEDs…[as are] Los Angeles…San Francisco…Raleigh, N.C… Ann Arbor, Mich…[and many other cities]…LED streetlights would save Pittsburgh $1 million in energy costs and $700,000 in maintenance, while reducing carbon dioxide emissions…

"The [University of Pittsburgh] group created a "life-cycle assessment" for each lighting technology…LEDs actually led the other technologies in negative environmental and health effects during manufacturing…LED "bulbs" consist of small lights embedded in circuit boards that require numerous raw materials, need considerable energy to produce, and can be difficult to recycle…[but] producing LED housings—composed largely of plastic and wire—consumes far less energy than manufacturing aluminum-heavy HPS casings. LED bulbs also contain no mercury and fewer toxins, such as iodine and lead…"

click to enlarge

"During a bulb's lifetime, however, electricity consumption produces up to 100 times the environmental impact of manufacturing…LED lights burn at 105 watts, compared to a hefty 150 for HPS and 163 for metal halide…[so] metal halide bulbs would emit nearly 500 million kilograms of carbon dioxide during 100,000 hours of use, followed by HPS bulbs with more that 400 million, induction bulbs with approximately 350 million, and LEDs producing slightly more than 300 million kilograms…LED technology would [also] emit a mere two-thirds the amount of airborne toxins and particulates…

"In the crucial area of cost, the prices of LED lights…range from $9.20 to $322 per fixture. But the technology's considerably longer life span could mitigate…LEDs did not last as long as induction bulbs…but were calculated to burn nearly three times longer than HPS lights and almost five times longer than metal halides…40,000 LED lamps could initially cost the City of Pittsburgh as much as $21 million versus approximately $9 million for metal halide streetlights. Yet replacing metal halides could cost as much as $44 million before the LED lamps needed a first replacement…"